Yue Cao selected as the new Professor Sir Ian Brownlie Fellow at the International Court of Justice

Yue Cao, a Clarendon Scholar and DPhil candidate at Jesus College, Oxford, has been selected as the new Professor Sir Ian Brownlie Judicial Fellow at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). The Fellowship programme is similar to a judicial clerkship or judicial assistantship and offers Yue the opportunity to work for 10 months at the leading international tribunal. Through Lady Brownlie’s philanthropic support the fellowship was established in 2025, in memory of Professor Sir Ian Brownlie QC, who also appeared as counsel and advocate in numerous cases before the International Court of Justice.

Yue said:

‘It is a particular privilege for someone who works on international law to be associated, through this fellowship, with the legacy of Sir Ian Brownlie, one of the most distinguished figures in the field. The fellowship offers an unparalleled opportunity to deepen my knowledge of international law and to gain invaluable insights into its practical application, directly complementing my doctoral research while also strengthening my broader generalist understanding of the discipline. I am profoundly grateful to Lady Brownlie for her generous support, and to my supervisor, the PIL Research Group, the Law Faculty, and Jesus College for their continued encouragement and support.’

Yue takes up the position in September 2026.